On the road to success at Iowa Lakes

April 11, 2013

Iowa Lakes Community College Success Center faculty Colleen Peltz and Lynn Dodge told Estherville Rotarians Thursday how the center helps students put their best foot forward - to succeed in their college careers.

Introducing Peltz and Dodge, Estherville campus dean Scott Stokes said Iowa Lakes was the only Iowa college to be certified in all three area of developmental education - among just 61 colleges in the country receiving that certification.

Dodge said the typical developmental student could be anyone. The student may have not really been interested in school in high school, for example.

Peltz said the center helps underprepared students prepare and prepared student advance.

The way that's done, said Dodge, is through a variety of delivery systems - independent study, in the classroom or online.

The need for developmental education is apparent by the fact that 33 percent of Iowa high-school students need developmental classes, Dodge said.

Peltz said the center has developed rigor by increasing credits for writing and math strategies from two to three credits. They've also piloted various instructor methods to improve success rates in writing and math courses.

Dodge said the center has presented a lot of their information to area high-school superintendents.

"I believe the partnership between our schools and our college is very strong," she said, adding that Estherville Lincoln Central students had an added advantage by having a college in their hometown.

"Estherville students, they're so lucky, because they can come right here and take face-to-face classes," she said.